Happy Tuesday, friends! After three days inside, I find myself thinking once again about OPTIMISTIC AGING: HONOR YOURSELF.
What I mean is that optimistic aging really is about the call to honor yourself…and there are many ways to do this…that is why I am writing about it weekly.
Three days of pajamas and socks reminds me of how quickly we can slip into despondency if we do not take time for ourselves.
Oh, I know, three days is not much…but there was a time in my life that I went years without honoring myself.
During my time as a working mother, I put me at the bottom of the priority list.
I said to myself that others were more important and there was no time to take care of me.
It is so easy as we age to allow illness, winter doldrums, or even caregiving to take us to that same low valley where we do not honor ourselves.
I received a wake-up call early on…so allow me to be your wake-up call today.
OPTIMISTIC AGING: HONOR YOURSELF: I DID
Stacy London, in her book The Truth About Style, explained perfectly how taking care of ourselves and our appearance is transformative.
It was for me. Once I shed the oversized message tee shirts and the frumpy fitting jeans; practiced skincare; put on makeup; and took my hair out of the pony tail…I could feel improvement in my state of mind.
I did not have much money at the time, but I read and learned how to improve my appearance and then shopped affordable stores and thrift.
It became fun….and even more fun were the comments as co-workers, family and friends took notice. It really was empowering.
By taking small steps daily to improve my outsides, I discovered that when you honor yourself, you can do more and serve others more with joy.
Now, when I go through times like right now when I am in my extreme comfy clothing for long periods, I get anxious to get back to self-care.
That is not a selfish statement…self care just means I can do more for others. Despondent people are stagnant and shut down….I was getting that way before I woke up to all I could be.
It does not take a lot of time and it does not take a lot of money.
No matter your situation or age, take just a few moments every day…for you.
If you are staying in…bathe, do your hair, care for your complexion, and wear something comfy but something that helps you to feel comfy in your own skin.
Avoid the negative thinking of “why bother” or “I am too old.” Just begin to do this anyway and watch how you will feel.
I honestly feel better about myself at age 72 than I did when I first began to care for me at age 50. And I am so glad that I learned to honor me.
OPTIMISTIC AGING: HONOR YOURSELF: LEGACY
I want to share with you a story that I have shared before.
I wrote this for The Huffington Post in 2015 about a woman who had a huge impact on me as a child.
Please do not toss out the reason for this story because she was wealthy.
In fact, I later met a car salesman who spoke the same way of his mother who dressed and carried herself with elegance while dressing out of donation barrels and living in projects.
She made each day special and honored herself and her family. I loved listening to the story of his mother.
The conversation with him began after I complimented his jacket. That was when he said, my mother taught me to always look my best, no matter what was in my day.
Now, to read about Mrs. Burns who left a legacy with me, just click on LEAVING A LEGACY THROUGH PERSONAL STYLE.
Ladies, if you are experiencing some depression and have ceased to care for yourself, please consider changing that today…even in a small way.
Do it for yourself….Optimistic Aging: Honor Yourself…is a place to begin.
And if you know someone who needs this encouragement…pass it on, please…life is too short not to live it with joy.
EMBRACE TODAY & KEEP SMILING!
By Pamela Lutrell
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